Part I: Development of organocatalytic asymmetric mannich reactions Part II: Luteolin analogues as potential anti-cancer agents

Abstract

This thesis comprises two parts: Part I- Development of Organocatalytic Asymmetric Mannich Reactions and Part II- Preparation of Luteolin Analogues as anti-Cancer Agents.Part I focuses on the direct organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions. The hydrophobic primary amino acid (L-threonine derivative) was first employed as an efficient catalyst for the direct, asymmetric three-component Mannich reactions in water. This kind of catalyst is also applicable to the asymmetric Mannich reaction employing N-Ts aryl imines. The corresponding anti-1,2-amino alcohols were afforded in good yields with enantioselectivities of 99% in almost all cases. Part II focuses on the preparation of Luteolin analogues as potential anti-cancer agents. A total number of sixteen Luteolin analogues were successfully synthesized and one of them appears to be more potent than Luteolin based on the preliminary biological tests. This study provides experimental evidence for the possible clinical applications of Luteolin or its analogues in cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy.